〜ないまでも

完璧(かんぺき)ではないまでも、十分(じゅうぶん)な出来(でき)です。

Kanpeki de wa nai made mo, jūbun na deki desu.

Not perfect, perhaps, but good enough.

ないまでも grants that the first is out of reach but the second holds

毎日(まいにち)とは言(い)わないまでも、週(しゅう)に一(いち)度(ど)は来(き)ます。

Mainichi to wa iwanai made mo, shū ni ichido wa kimasu.

Not daily, I would not claim, but once a week at least.

The first is a high bar, the second a step down to reality

後段(こうだん)は必(かなら)ず前段(ぜんだん)より低(ひく)くなります。

Kōdan wa kanarazu zendan yori hikuku narimasu.

The second is always lower than the first.

Reverse them and it fails